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Posted on 10/07/2003 5:42:03 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Legislators eye juggling primary date Negotiators sweat over map while clock keeps on ticking
AUSTIN (AP) — Texas' Republican leaders seem to have no qualms about taking Texas out of the "Super Tuesday" primary next year in order to incorporate still-developing changes in congressional lines onto the ballot.
But as options narrow with each tick of the clock, some Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature say they are not convinced that delaying the state's primary is in the best interest of Texas.
As Republican House and Senate negotiators continue to toil over a district map that would put more GOP candidates in the Texas congressional delegation, time is running out for Republicans who want to ensure their map is reflected on the next election ballot.
At the Texas Capitol on Monday, U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, who Democrats say triggered the Republican "power grab," met with House Speaker Tom Craddick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in hopes of urging a compromise, said DeLay spokesman Jonathan Grella. After hitting an internal road block, negotiators also Monday were considering compromise ideas put forth by Republican Gov. Rick Perry's office.
Secretary of State Geoff Connor has said if a redistricting map wasn't in place by Monday, the Texas primary would have to be postponed, though the Leg islature could vote to change several key dead lines.
The Legis lature moved the Texas primary date from March 9 to March 2, or "Super Tuesday," in the spring.
The move upgraded Texas' influence in the primary elec tion season because the race for presidential nominations could be sealed March 2.
"We moved our presidential primary up a week and therefore Texas became more relevant in the presidential primary sweepstakes, because we would be the same week as California and New York," said Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas. Branch pushed the legislation during the regular session.
Branch said he would not support moving the election to March 9.
"I haven't polled it, but my sense is there was resistance in members of both sides of the aisle to pushing the date back," Branch said.
Returning the election to March 9, which has been the focus of some talk around the Capitol, would put the election in the middle of many families' spring break vacations.
"(A March 2 election) is more democratic, more people have a chance to vote because they're in town," Branch said.
A March 9 primary also could be more costly because polling sites would have to be set up at schools that are closed for vacation, he said.
"It's saving money for the county and parties. It's cheaper to hold elections in a school that's open than a school that's dark — security, lights, to pay for operations for a day," he said.
Craddick has said he has no problem with delaying the primary. Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, a lead House negotiator in designing a new congressional district map, has said it's irrelevant when the Texas primary is held.
"It's not a big deal," King said. "I don't think Texans care a bit whether they have the primary in March or April or May or June. I don't think it matters ... Texas is going to vote for President Bush and he's going to carry it heavily."
Perry, who has said he prefers not to delay the primary, also said "if that is what's required, then that is what's required."
Texas Democrats, who hope to have a say in who will oppose Bush, have challenged plans to delay the primary.
"It's so absurd that we would move the primary deadline away from Super Tuesday when we in fact moved it up to Super Tuesday this session so that Texans would have a strong voice in the choice for president of the United States primarily," said Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco. "It's just another example, quiet frankly, of the bad priorities that we have in the Texas leadership in the government right now. It shows you that nothing is more important to them than this partisan political power grab."
Republicans want to hold the majority of seats in the state's 32-member congressional delegation. Democrats now have a 17-15 edge and want to keep existing boundaries.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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How badly do the Rats want to fight the new map, if it means that they'll get no say on Super Tuesday?
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